Gov't authorizes construction of two new indigenous reactors

By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, April 2 (Yonhap) -- The government on Thursday authorized construction of
two new indigenous reactors as part of a program to enhance the country's atomic
energy capabilities.
The reactors, to be built at the Uljin power plant in North Gyeongsang Province,
will be based on the Advanced Power Reactor (APR) design that can generate 1,400
megawatts of electricity, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said.
The Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., which operates the country's four nuclear
power plants, requested approval for construction on Jan. 31.
A pair of APR-1400 units are currently being built at the Gori power plant in the
southern city of Busan, although the newly authorized reactors are expected to be
the first in the country to be made entirely of locally made parts.
"Detailed reviews are underway on the locally developed reactor coolant pumps and
man-machine interface system, and if approved these will replace components
imported in the past," said a ministry official.
The units under construction in the Gori plant were forced to import these two
key components because local development was not complete when they were
authorized in 2007.
Construction will take seven years with the government to spend 6.29 trillion won
(US$4.69 billion).
Once complete in 2016, South Korea is expected to operate 28 reactors generating
40.1 percent of all electric power, an increase from the current 20 reactors in
operation that now generate 36 percent of the country's electric power needs.
South Korea, which imports almost all of its energy resources, announced late
last year that it will build 12 new reactors by 2022 in an effort to reduce the
country's dependence on crude oil, natural gas and coal.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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